EU urges renewed talks in Honduras crisis

(BRUSSELS) - The European Union Saturday called on ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya and the country's de facto leader to renew talks after a US-brokered deal to end the political crisis collapsed.

The Swedish EU presidency expressed "its concern about the disruption in implementing the accord," in which the two sides had agreed to form a unity government.

Shortly before the deadline, interim leader Roberto Micheletti announced a unity government without including Zelaya ministers in the new cabinet. He did not name the ministers but left the door open for Zelaya ministers to later join the newly formed cabinet.

Zeyala had refused to present nominees for ministerial posts, as requested by Micheletti, unless he was first reinstated to "reverse the coup" that ousted him on June 28.

The EU presidency's statement also urged "the two parties to return to talks in order to re-establish democratic and constitutional order" in the Central American country.

The EU also expressed its support for a commission that is expected to verify compliance with the accord and the efforts of the Organisation of American States (OAS) and the United States to resolve the crisis.